ANTIGONISH - Gary Ross continued to be the bright light on an otherwise forgettable Atlantic University Sport football season for the Mount Allison Mounties.
The fourth-year receiver/return specialist totalled 156 yards on 11 catches in his team's 31-18 loss to the St. Francis Xavier X-Men on Friday night. Those totals allowed Ross to set two more AUS records, with 172 career receptions and 2,582 career receiving yards. He broke the AUS single-season receiving standard a week ago, finishing with 60 catches.
"He's OK, I guess," Mounties head coach Kelly Jeffrey said, tongue firmly planted in cheek. "He's been everything for us. He's a leader who pushes guys to do better, and he's an example for others to follow in the classroom as well."
Ross's accomplishments take a little of the sting out of an 0-8 season for Mount Allison, which gave up 43.5 points and 548.5 yards of offence per game this season, and had a AUS-worst turnover margin of minus-19.
"Our guys want to win, and the willingness to do what it takes to prepare to win games is there," said Jeffrey, who has completed the first year of a three-year contract. "The key now is coming up with another good recruiting class to put together with the good one we had this year, and to make sure guys do what they have to to be back for next season."
The Mounties led 11-10 at halftime against the X-Men, who used their bench liberally while looking ahead to a semifinal game next week against the Acadia Axemen. Adam Molnar caught two touchdown passes from Jake Hotchkiss. Olivier Eddie, playing his last university game, booted a field goal, two converts and a single.